Car-axle box



(No Model.) i 2 sheets-sneer; 1. J. G. FRENCH.

- GAR AXLE BOX. No. 397,637. Patented Feb. 12. 1889.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. G. FRENCH.

GAR AXLE BOX. 1

No. 397,637. Patented Feb. 12, 1889.

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JOHN C. FRENCH, OF (TONFORT), NEW I'IAMPSIIIRE.

CAR-AXLE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,637, dated February 12, 1889.

Application filed May 31, 1888. Serial No. 275,566. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, JOHN C. FRENCH, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Concord, in the county of Merrimac and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CL1AXl6 Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the rear end of car-axle boxes, the object being to provide better means for the entrance of the dust guard, which is formed in two segments, and novel means for retaining the same in proper position.

The invention will be clearly understood by reference to the following specification and claims and the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, of which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car-axle box provided with my improvements, Fig. 2 being an end sectional elevation, showingone segment of a dust-guard partly removed. Fig. 3 is a plan of the rear part of the axle-box. Fig. it represents a cross-section of the axlebox taken through the dust-guard chamber, showing a modification in construction. Fig. 5 is part end elevation and part cross-section taken through the dust-guard chamber of an axle-box, showing still another modification of my improvements. Fig. (5 shows an end sectional elevation of a car-axle box with other modifications of my improvements. Fig. 7is a plan of the rear end of-an axle-box when constructed as in Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a plan of the rear end of an axle-box when constructed as in Fig. 5. Fig. 9 represents one side of Fig. 6, showing the cap covering the dust-guard chamber as when closed and firmly secured.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the various views.

Heretofore, in one or more instances, a dustguard made in two segments has been introduced by means of side openings in the dustguard chamber, the outer portion of either segment of the dust-guard being made to servethe purpose of a cover or cap for the said opening.

In the above construction great difficulty is encoimtered by reason of the lateral move ment of the axle-box upon the axle-journal, which tends to break the fastenings designed to hold the caps or covers over the side open,-

ings in said dust-guard chamber, and thus loose a segment of said dust-guard as well as admit dust to said chamber. To avoid these difliculties I provide openings f or the entrance of the dust-guard segments in or as near the top of the dust-guard chamber as possible and provide springs for insuring perfect contact of the dust-guard segments with the journal.

In the drawings I show various forms of springs, some secured to the dustguards themselves and others to the caps closing the openings in the dust-guard chamber, either construction serving the same purpose.

The dust-guard. segments A A may enter the d ust-guard chamber 1) of the axle-box I; by means of openings 11 1), formed in its top, as seen in 2, 3, 5, and 8, or by means of a single lon opening, 11 as in Figs. 4 and 7; or openings may be formed in each upper corner of the dust-guard chamber, partly in its sides and partly in its top, as at b Figs. 6 and 9.

Springs C C may be secured to each segmen 1". of the d ust-guard crossing each other, as in Fi 2, and bearing against the walls of the dust-guard chamber 1) on each side of the axlebox; or, in case a single opening, 0 is used for the entrance of the dust-guard segments, a yokespring, C 0', may be fastened to the cap or cover D, which is conveniently fastened by screws (Z (Z to the axle-box. Similar springs, C C may also be secured, respectively, to the caps D D as shown. in Figs. 5 and 6. Those shown in liig. 5 must necessarily be hinged, as at c 0, however, in order to allow the cap to be raised.

The caps or covers for the openings in the dust-guard chamber may be variously secured, screws (Z d serving the purpose in some cases; but when the said caps extend over the sides, as is seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9,0thermeans may be nct'crable-such as the round-headed stud F, secured to the cap, and hold by a spring-hook, r, attached to the axle-box, (seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3;) or a stud, H, may project from the axle-box, and, mssingthrough aslot, d, in the cap or cover D receive and support a slotted retaining-piece, I, between its outer bent end, 72, and the said cap D The piece I should be tapered slightly from top to bottom and connected by a spring, 2', tolthe axlebox, so as to hold the cap tightly to said axle-box, as seen in Fig. 6. One of the caps, D, is shown to have a tongue, (Z filling the opening I) in. the dust-guard chamber, and the spring is hinged to said tongue portion.

The dust-guard segments A A may have a slot, (t, at any convenient point for hooking onto for the purpose of removal from the du st-gu ard cham be r.

To prevent the dust-guard segn'ients from turning in the dust-guard chamber, I show in Fig. 5 a portion of the metal from which the springs C are formed projecting downward from the hinge or pivotal point r, as at c 0, against which the upper part of said dustguard may strike. Any equivalent for the parts 0' may be used, however-2 (a, a stoplug may extend downward from eitherot the caps D, D or I)".

An important feature of my invention is the enlargement of the dust-guard chamber 3 I) in a direction crosswise ot' the axle-box snfas n ew, an d desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combi.nation,with a car-axle box having a dust-guard chamber, of hollow side flanges forming extensions for said chamber, covered openings formed partly in said extensions or flanges at each side of the journalbearing, and a dust-guard formed in two segments, each adapted to enter either of said covered openings, having slots to facilitate their removal and springs for maintaining continuous contact with the journal.

The combination of a dust-guard formed in two segments, and a chamber :in the caraxle box extending beyond the side walls of said box into flanges formed for this purpose on its sides, having openings in its top for admitting either segment of said dust-guard on opposite sides of the journal, and one or more threaded openings at its bottom closed by screw-plugs, and coversfor said top openings provided with suitable fastenin gs and springs for maintaining continuous contact of the dust-guard segments withthe journal.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses. V

J OHN C. FRENCH. \V itn esses:

J. B. THURSTON, NATHANIEL E. MARTIN. 

